Vertical filing drawer



Dec. 27, 193.2. F, G, STRAUB'EL 1,892,020

I VERTICAL `FILINtIr DRAWER Filed Sept. 24. 1930 Patented Dec. 27, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE FREDERICK L. G. STRAUBEL, 0F GREEN BAY,WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-EIGHT T0 0. C. STR-AUBEL, OF GREEN BAY,WISCONSIN, AND TWO-EIGHTHS TO C. W.

STRAUBEL, OF YOUNGS'TOWN, OHIO VERTICAL FILING DRAWER Application filedSeptember 24, 1930. Serial No. 484,038.

struction shown in my Patent N o. 1,561,752,

issued to me on November 17, 1925. An object of the invention is theprovision of improved means connecting the front end of a drawer of thekind described, with a follower positioned in the drawer whereby thetilting of the front end forwardly from its vertical position causes abackward tilting of the follower and. the return of the front end to itsVertical position correspondingly returns the follower to its verticalposition.

In practice, the space between the follower and the front end issometimes crowded with filing matter due to the failure to adj ust theposition of the follower to correspond to the contents of the drawer. Insome devices as at present constructed, the connections between thefollower and the front end are such that pressure upon the follower dueto the packing of the contents, tilts the follower backwardly and causesa corresponding outward tilting of the front end. Another object oftheinvention is the provision 0f improved actuating means connecting atiltable front end with a tiltable follower whereby the follower islocked against tilting except insofar as -it is actuated by the tiltingof the frontl end.

- Still another object of the invention is the provision of improvedmounting means for a tiltable follower of the kind described whereby thetilting of the follower increases its distance from the front asmeasured along the base of the drawer, suiiiciently to loosen thecontents at the bottom of the drawer.

- A further object of the invention is the provision ofv adevice of thekind described which is simple, compact, durable, reliable,

efficient, and satisfactory for its intended purpose.

Many other objects and advantages of the The .invention contemconstruction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilledin the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement and combi nation of parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts, v

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a drawer equipped withthe device of my invention;

'F.ig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of V Fig. 1 drawn to a largerscale; and l Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularlyto the drawing, the invention shown isused in connection with a metallic drawer comprising a pair of sides 10,a bottom comprising two longitudinal sections 11 connected by a channelmember 12, anda back 13. A tiltable front 14, fastened to the bottom ofthe drawer by hinges 37 has a pair of inwardly turned triangular-shapedend flanges 19. A knob 17, mounted on the front 14 near its bottom,provides means for sliding the drawer in and out of a cabinet, notshown. A knob 16 provides means for tilting or rotating the front 14about the hinges 37. The hinges 37 areso positioned that the axis ofrotation of the I front 14 is substantially coincident with or slightlyunderneath the sections 11 forming the bottom of the drawer. Thelocation of the hinges 37 is such that all iortionsof the front 14,positioned above a plane corresponding to the top surface 'of the bottomsections 11, are advanced in tilting the front forwardly. The bottomportion of the file contents of the drawer are thereby provided with anincreased space permitting such contents to spread in the bottom of thedrawer sufficiently to insure easy removal thereof.

A follower-plate or panel 15 is mounted inA the drawer in adjustablespaced-apart relation to the front 14 and is operatively counccted withthe front in a manner hereinafter more particularly described. .Thespace between the sections 11 formlng the@ bottom of the drawer isenclosed by the channel member 12 which extends the full length of thedrawer. The member 12 may be made any desired depth but in practice adepth of approximately three quarters of an inch has been satisfactoryfor use with filing drawers of average size. The channel me1nber12 hasoutwardly turned flanges, by means of which it is fastened to the bottomsections 11 by welding or by any other suitable means. The member 12-provides a runway for a channelshaped supporting member 25 forming aportion of a carrier for the follower`15. The bottom sections 11 projectinwardly and overhang the edges of the channel member 12, the spacesbetween the over-hanging edges and the bottom of the member providingrunways for wheels 27 upon which the member 25 is mounted. The member 25is of substantial length and has outwardly turned flanges 26 by means ofwhich it is connected in any suitable manner to a member 21 forming aportion of the carrier upon which the follower 15 is mounted. The member21 extends substantially the full width of the drawer and has its endsturned upwardly to form flanges 9, each providing a mounting for one ofa pair of wheels 22. rl`^he follower plate 15 is supported by andconnected with the member 21 by a pair of hinges 36 which permit theplate to be given any desired angle of inclination relative to thesupporting member 21. A pair ef triangular shaped flanges 20, one oneach end of the follower plate 15, give rigidity to the plate and eachprovides a mounting for one of a pair of standards 59.

The members 21 and 25 are so connected as to form a carrier by means ofwhich the follower plate 15-is easily moved longitudinally of thedrawer, with the wheels 22 and 27 respectively riding on the bottomsections l1`d and the channel member 12. The follower 15 is manuallyheld against longitudinal movement,` relative to the drawer, by a rod 30which projects. downwardly into one of al plurality of apertures orperforations 24 iny the channel member 12. The rod 30 is slidablymounted between a guide plate 29 and the follower plate 15, and is heldin its downward position by a tension spring 35. One

end of the spring 35 is fastened to a pin 32 projecting from the guideplate 29 and the other end of the spring is connected to a pin 33mounted on the rod 30 and projecting through a slot 34 formed in theguide plate 29. A bar 31 having its lower end curved outwardly ispositioned immediately above the rod 30 and sufficiently close that therod and bar may be grasped with one hand for the purpose of moving therod upwardly against the pull of the spring 35 when it is desired torelease the follower plate 15 from engagement with the channel member 12for the pur.

pose of shifting the follower and varying itsl distance from the front14. The slot 34 permits the rod 30 to'be moved as desired to clear thechannel member 12. Upon release of the rod v30, when immediately overone ofl the apertures 34, the spring 35 will cause the end of the rod toenter the aperture and thereby hold the follower in its adjusted`position. The shifting of the follower 15 longitudinally of the draweris easily performed since its Weight is carried by the wheels 22 and 27.The hinges 36 permit the oscillation of the plate 15 from verticalrearwardly and back to vertical. Since the lower end of the rod 30 isconfined within one of the apertures 24 the axis of tilting or rota-tionof the follower plate is substantially coincident with .the lower sideof the channel 12. It is obvious that such tilting is accomplished onlyby acorresponding riciprocatory movement of the members 21 and 25 on thewheels 22 and 27. That portion of the member 21 which projects above thebottom of the drawer is in the rear of the follower plate 15 where thereis no possibility of its coming Iin contact with the filing matter. Thatportion of the member 25 which is in front of the follower is allcontained within the channel 12 and underlies and clears the contents ofthe drawer. Means are provided on each side of the drawer to connect thefront 14 with-the follower 15 to cause an outward tilting or returnmovement of the front to impart a corresponding movement to thefollower. Each side 10 of the drawer is turned inwardly and downwardlyat its upper edge to form a flange 18. The filing contents are containedbetween the oppositely positioned flanges 18 leaving clear spacesunderneath the flanges in which the means connecting the front 14 andthe follower 15 are mounted. The follower 15 is tilted rearwardly by aforward tilting of the front 14 and is returned to vertical position bya return movement of the front to its vertical position through theresulting movement of rods 57, slidably mounted in channel bars 39,there being one of each mounted on each side of the drawer.

The channel or guide bars 39 are supported from the lower ends ofoscillating levers 40, 41 and 42 by pivots 46, 47 and 48 respectively.The levers 40, 41 and 42 are so mounted as to remain parallel in allpositions and the pivots 46, 47 and 48 are equidistant from` the line ofoscillation of the respective levers 40, 41

- and 42 so that oscillation of the levers moves the guide bars 39 bothvertically and longitudinally. The levers 40, 41 and 42 are supported byZ-shaped bars 38 with which they are connected by pivots 43, 44 and 45respectively. The Z-bars 38 are tiXedly mounted one on Aeach of thesides 10, and the levers 40 and 41 project through slots 49 rovided inthe web portion of the Z-bars. e slots 49 are of sufficient length topermit the required movement of the levers and 41. The levers areactuated by tilting of the front 14. For this purpose links 51 connectthe upper ends of the levers 40 with the flanges 19 of the front 14 bymeans of pivots 53 and 52 respectively. A forward tilting of the front14 thereby moves the levers 40, 41 and 42 from their full-line positionsto their respective dotted-line positions and the re,

turn of the front 14 to its vertical position moves the levers back totheir full-line position. The resulting vertical movement of the channelbars 39 causes a corresponding vertical movement of the sliding rods 57,which are mounted therein. of the rods 57 are pivotally connected, bymeans of pins 58, with the standards 59 which project one `from each end0f the follower 15. A collar and a head 61 are mounted on the pins 58 tohold the pins in their bearings in the standards. The vertical movementofthe rods 57 occasioned by an oscillation of the guide members 39causes an oscillation of the follower 15 in accordance with the tiltingof the front 14. An upward vertical movement of the rod 57 rotates thefollower 15 and standards 59 from their full line to their dotted-linepositions of Fig. 3,

about an axis substantially coincident with the bottom face of thechannel member 12 by reason of the insertion of the rod 30 in one of theapertures 24.

The described rotation or oscillation of the follower 15 is accomplishedonly by a corresponding longitudinal movement of the follower basecomprising the members 21 and 25, and ahinged movement of the followerplate 15 relative to the base is permitted by the hinges 36. Thesupporting member 25 is provided with a slot 23 through which the rod 30projects, movement of the member relative to the lower end of the rod isthereby permitted. Since'the movement of the end of the rod 57 followsan arc-of a circle of which the center is the axis of rotation of thefollower 15,'the rod 57 will necessarily slide in its mounting intheguide member 39. The sliding of the rod 57 in the guide member 39 alsopermits the follower plate 15 and carrier base to be movedlongitudinally of the drawer to increase or vary the space between theplate and the front of the drawer.

A spring 54 is connected with the upper end if the lever 41 by a pivot46 and with the flange 18 by a pivot 55. The spring 54 is so arranged asto tend to hold the front 14 and the follower 15 in their respectivevertical full-line positions' when the lever 41 is in its full-lineposition. Inits dotted-line posion of Fig. 1 the spring 54 likewisetends to hold the front 14 and the follower 15in their respectivedotted-line positions.

The arrangement of the rods 57 and of the channel bars 39 is such thattilting of the 'Ihe rear ends 4 front 14 causes a corresponding tiltingof the follower plate 15 and locks the plate against tilting other thanas a consequence of the tilting of said front. Filing matter isfrequently v packed closely in the -drawer so as to exert a pressureagainst the follower 15 and this pressure tends to rotate the followerfrom its .vertical position to its inclined position. Such rotation, ifit occurred, would necessarily initially move the pin .58 alongr a liucapproximately parallel to the levers 40, 4l and 42 in their full lineposition. The pin 58. being fastened to therod 57, is held against suchinitial movement since movement of the guide 39, in which the rod 57 isslidably mounted, is controlled by the pivotal connection of the guidewith the ends of the levers 40. 41 and 42. Movement of the rod 57 andthe guide 39 along a path permitting tilting of the follower must bepreceded by a movement of the levers 40, 41 and 42 a substantial amountfrom their full line positions in the direction of their dotted linepositions. This movement of the levers can only occur as a result of aforward tilting of the front 14 and as a result, the follower 15 is heldagainst tilting rearwardly except when so actuated by a for'- wardtilting of the front.

The front'14 rotates about an axis substantially coincident with thebottom of the draw` tom of the drawer. This increased space loos- Vensthe contents of the drawer and thereby enables the same to be easilyremoved.` The return of the front and the'follower to their respectivevertical positions results in the drawer contentsv being again pushedclosely together and the space utilized to the best advantage. Thus itwill be seen-that I have provided im- .provements invertical filingdrawers of the kind described whereby the front and follower will betilted simultaneously in such away as to loosen the contents of thedrawer at the bottom and also that I have provided a novel-v mountingfor a follower' of the kind described which is locked against tiltingand untilting except as actuated by the front.

Having thus described my mvention, 1t 1s obvious that val'iousimmaterial modifications \may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of mv invention: hence, I do not'wish to be understood aslimitmgfmyself to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown` and described or uses mentioned.

lVhat I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A drawer having a tiltable front, a tiltable follower, connectionsbetween' the front und follower to cause an outward tilting or, returnmovement of the front to impart corresponding movement to the follower,the axes of rotation of said front and follower being'underneath thebottom of the drawer.

2. A drawer having a tiltable front, a tiltable follower, connectionsbetween the front and follower adapted to cause an outward tilting orreturn movement of the front to impart corresponding movement to thefollower, the axes of rotation of said front and follower beingunderneath the bottom of the drawer, said connections adapted to holdsaid follower in upright position except as actuated by said connectionsby the tilting of the front. v

3. A drawer having an outwardly tiltable front and a rearwardly tiltablefollower arranged in spaced-apart relation, connections between thefront and follower to cause an outward tilting or return movement of thefront to impart corresponding movement to` the follower, themountings ofsaid front and follower being such that tiltingvoutwardly of the frontincreases the space between them as measured along the bottom of thedrawer.

4. A drawer having a tiltable front; a tiltable follower, connectionsbetween the front and follower to cause an outward tilting or returnmovement of the front to impart corresponding movement to the follower,the axis of rot-ation of the follower being a substantial distanceunderneath the bottom of the drawer, and a sup ort for the followerresting upon and mova le relative to the bottom of the drawer to permittilting and return movement of the follower about said axis.

5. A drawer having a tiltable front, a tiltable follower, connectionsbetween the frontl and follower operable to cause an outward tiltingorreturn movement of the front to impart corresponding movement to thefollower, said connection comprising a rod plv-.- otally connected tothe follower, a guide member in which the rod is slidably mounted, aplurality of levers providing pivoted supports for said guide member,and a link connecting said front with one of said levers.

6. A drawer having a tiltable front, a tiltable follower, a connectionbetween the front and follower to cause an outward tilting or returnmovement of the front to impart corresponding movement to, the follower,saidy connection comprising a rod pivotally connected to the follower, aguide memberfin which the rod is slidably mounted, a plurality ofparallel levers from which said guide member is suspended inhorizontalposition, and a link connecting said front with one of saidlevers.

v 7. A drawer having a tiltable front, a tiltable follower, connectionson each side of the drawer between the front and follower operable tocause an outward tilting or return movement of the front to impartcorresponding movement to the follower, said connections each comprisinga rod having its rear end pivotally connected to the follower, a guidemember in which the rod is slidably mounted, a plurality of parallellevers rotatable in a vertical lane and each providing a pivoted supportor said guide member, and a link connecting vsaid front with one of saidlevers.' i v 8. A drawer having a titlable front, a tiltable follower,connections between the front and follower operable to cause an outwardtilting or returnjmovementof the front to impart corresponding movementto the follower, said connections comprisinga rod hav- 4in .its rearend'pivotally connected tothe vfo lower',.a `guide member in whichthe-rod is slidably mounted, a plurality of levers providing a support'for said guide member, a

link connecting said front with one of said A levers, and a spring soconnecting one of said levers with the drawer as to yieldingly holdsai/d connection in either of the positions corresponding to the titledor the untilted posi'- tion of said front.

9. A drawer having a tiltable front, a tiltable follower, connections oneach side of-the drawer between the front and follower to cause anoutward tilting or return movement of the front to impart correspondingmovement to the follower, said connectionseach comprising a rod havingits rear end pivotally connected to the follower, a guide member in,which the rod is-slidably mounted, a plu-` rality of leverseachprovidmg a pivoted support for said guide member, a link connecting saidfront with one of said levers, and a spring so connecting one of saidlevers with the drawer `as to yieldingly hold said connection in eitherof the positions correspondin to the tilted or the untilted position ofsai front. y

10.- A drawer having a tiltable front, a tiltable follower,'connect1'onson each side-of the.

. drawer betweem the front and follower to p ment to the follower, saidconnections each comprising a rod having its rear end pivotallyconnected to the follower, a guide member in which the rod is slidablymounted, a pluralit'yof parallel levers providing a pivoted necting saidfront with one of said levers, the inclination of said levers being suchthat the follower is held in upright position except as 'support forsaid guide member, a link con- 125 actuated by said connection bytilting of the 13o front. Y

11. A drawer having a tiltable .front'and tiltable follower, means soconnecting the front and follower that force applied to the front toVtilt the same operates through said means to correspondingl tilt thefollower, said means operating to ock said front and follower in uprightposition against tilting by the direct application of force to thefollower, and spring means normally operating to ma1ntain said front inupright position and yielding under a certain pressure on said front topermit tilting movement thereof.

12. A drawer having a tiltable front and tiltable follower, means soconnecting the front and follower that force applied to the front totilt the same operates through said means to correspondingly tilt thefollower', said means operating to lock said front and follower inupright position against tilting by the directl application of force tothe follower, and spring means operating to maintain the front in eitherits upright or extreme tilted position and to yield under certainpressure on the front to permit tilting thereof.

13. A drawer having a vnormally vertical tiltable front and follower,means operatively connecting said front and follower, said meanscomprising a forwardly projecting standard on each side of the follower,a plurality of levers pivotally mounted on each side of the drawer inparallel relation, a horizontally extending channel bar on each side ofthe drawer pivotally suspended from` the lower ends of the adjacentlevers, a rod slidably mounted in each channel bar, pins pivotallyconnecting the standards with the adj acent rods, and links connectingthe front with the forward lever on each side of the drawer.

39 1d. A drawer having anormally vertical' tiltable front and follower,means operatively connecting said front and follower, said nieanscomprising a forwardly projecting standard on each side of the follower,a plurality of levers pivotally-mounted on each side of the drawer inparallel relation, a horizontally extending channel bar on each side ofthe drawer pivotally suspended from the lower ends of the adjacentlevers, a rod slid;

E3@ ably mounted in each channel bar, pins pivotally connecting thestandards with the adjacent rods, and linksconnecting said front withthe forward levers on each sideof the drawer, said levers extendingdownwardly and slightly forwardly from their pivot supports when thefront is vertical and having a substantial inclination rearwardly whenthe front is tilted outwardly.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscrib 3 my name this`18th day ofSeptember A. D.,

FREDERICK L. G. STRAUBEL. l

